Typhoon Ragasa has made landfall in China, where around two million people have been evacuated
At least 17 people have died in Taiwan after a lake burst, causing severe flooding in the east - geologists are describing it as a "tsunami from the mountains"
A month's worth of rain is expected today in Zhuhai city as it hunkers down for the "King of Storms", our correspondent Laura Bicker reports
Ragasa has weakened from super to severe typhoon status but remains highly destructive with top winds of 241km/h (150mph)
Equivalent of a Category Five hurricane, Ragasa is the world's strongest storm this year and has been roaring over the South China Sea for days
The typhoon did not make landfall in Hong Kong, but left 90 people injured after it skirted the coastline, unleashing powerful winds and heavy rain
We now have some fresh images coming in from Taiwan's Hualien county, the area hardest-hit by Super Typhoon Ragasa.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesThe village chief of the township of Dama in Taiwan, home to about 1,000 people, says the entire village has been flooded and many people are still stranded.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Wang Tse-an describes the chaotic scenes as authorities tried to get people to safety.
"It's chaotic now," Wang says.
"There are mud and rocks everywhere. Some flooding has subsided but some remains."
Taiwan's fire department have reported 14 people dead and 124 missing, with officials saying all the dead and missing were in the township of Guangfu.
We can now bring you more updates from Taiwan, where 14 people have died while Ragasa caused a barrier lake to burst its banks.
Taiwan's fire department said on Wednesday that 124 people remained missing in Hualien county, in eastern Taiwan, after a barrier lake overflowed and unleashed a flood during a typhoon, according to Reuters news agency.
We'll bring you further updates.
The BBC's Laura Bicker is live in Zhuhai, the southern Chinese city that is badly affected by super typhoon Ragasa. Here's her report:
Image source, ReutersThe Hong Kong Observatory has issued its highest storm warning signalling hurricane force winds "for some time".
It has urged people to stay inside away from windows and doors and remain in place "until the danger is over".
Maximum gusts of 206km were reported at Ngong Ping plateau, a top tourist destination, while the observatory expects winds of up to 118mph elsewhere.
Ragasa will also bring storm surges between 2m and 3m over the Hong Kong coast, and could see 5m higher water in Tolo Harbour.
We're back with our coverage of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is currently nearing the Chinese coast.
If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know:
Here's a rundown of what has happened so far - and what to expect in the coming hours:
We're pausing our live coverage for now, but stay with us as we bring you the latest in our news story.
Sarah Keith-Lucas
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather
The expected track of the storm is in a westerly direction, and has edged further north than previously forecast.
The worst impacts to Hong Kong will be felt during Tuesday night and early Wednesday local time. Although the eye of the storm won’t make direct landfall here, it will pass close to the south as a 'very strong typhoon'. There will be a significant storm surge of around 2m around the Pearl River Estuary and up to 4 to 5m close to Tolo Harbour, as well as waves of nearly 14m at sea.
By Wednesday evening, Landfall is expected on the south China coast, likely near Zhanjiang in Guangdong. Ragasa should weaken a little before landfall due to increased friction as it approaches land, but will still be a 'Very strong typhoon' with sustained winds of 155km/hr and gusts up to 220km/hr,.
Torrential rain is expected today in Taiwan, southern Fujian and eastern Guangdong, spreading across Guangdong, Hong Kong and into Hainan. Some areas could see 250-450mm of rain.
Image source, ReutersPhilippines is still reeling from floods and landslides caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa a day earlier, but already another storm has formed east of the country, over its Pacific coast.
When it enters the country's storm reporting jurisdiction today or tomorrow, it will be assigned the local name Opong. The tropical depression will also be the 15th storm or typhoon to enter the country this year.
A tropical depression, the lowest classification under the Philippines weather bureau Pagasa's system, is four rungs below a super typhoon.
It is expected to pack winds of 62km/h (38.5mph).
Lok Lee
BBC News Chinese, Taipei
Image source, ReutersThere was a collective sigh of relief in Taiwan as the island remained largely unscathed after Super Typhoon Ragasa neared overnight. Nevertheless, at least six people were injured as southern and eastern Taiwan was hardest hit. Schools have been shut down in Hualien, Taitung countries, as well as parts of Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Yilan. About 3,200 residents living close to a landslide dam in the eastern Hualien county were evacuated as a precaution.
More than 100 international flights departing from the capital Taipei have been cancelled today.
Helen Willetts
BBC Weather
Super typhoon Ragasa crossed the Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan and at the time of crossing Calayan a steady wind speed of 215 km/h was recorded with gusts up to 295km/h.
This makes it the strongest storm of the season so far and comparing with an Atlantic hurricane, a category 5.
Along Taiwan’s east coast we have had rainfall reports of between 200 and 400mm in the last 24 hours with more yet to fall.
This system will pass close to Hong Kong this evening and into Wednesday still as a very strong typhoon before making landfall over southern China overnight.
Packing winds of 260kph (162 mph) at its peak on Monday, Ragasa is believed to be the most powerful storm the world has seen this year.
The China Meteorological Administration has described Ragasa as the "King of Storms".
It's expected to be more destructive than the other typhoons that have made landfall in China's Guangdong province earlier this year.
Laura Bicker
China correspondent
At 14:00 local time (07:00 GMT), Zhuhai issued a red typhoon alert - the highest level of alert.
Da Xiong, a shop owner in Zhuhai, says the city is used to typhoons but tells me he’s taking no chances.
Residents in this low lying area next to the sea front are worried about tidal surges. Local residents have already been evacuated to a school.
For Da Xiong, he's already taped up the windows of his restaurant and is just taking a delivery of sandbags to stop water getting in.
His shop will have to close today and tomorrow.
Food deliveries in Zhuhai have also been suspended, a look at a popular delivery app shows.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's just past 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT) in Hong Kong, where residents are bracing themselves as Super Typhoon Ragasa edges closer to southern China.
Here's where things stand:
We'll continue to bring you the latest updates as we get them - do stay with us.
Martin Yip
BBC News Chinese, in Hong Kong
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's the "calm before the storm" for some residents in Hong Kong, who are still enjoying a run on the street or a bike run while they can.
But residents of Heng Fa Chuen, a large housing estate on the eastern edge of Victoria Harbour, are especially nervous.
The area has in the past often experienced flooding when typhoons sweep hrough the city. Some told reporters that they were praying their underground carpark would not be submerged again, like what super typhoons Hato and Mangkhut did in 2017 and 2018.
And they aren't the only ones that are nervous. Supermarket shelves have been wiped bare, with fresh vegetables, meat and instant noodles running on low supply. Taped up glass windows can be seen everywhere - a measure they hope will stop them from breaking.
Image source, BBC News ChineseThe city's Education Bureau had also taken a rare step to suspend schools for two days. In the past such orders would only be given two hours before a No.8 typhoon signal would be hoisted.
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we reported earlier, Hong Kong is hunkering down as the typhoon edges closer to the financial hub. But its markets will remain open for trading even under "extreme conditions", the Hong Kong Stock Exchange said.
Last September, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange introduced a trading mechanism allowing the securities market to stay open even with a typhoon signal No. 8 or higher.
The bourse operator said on Monday that it was closely monitoring the weather situation and would prioritise the safety of employees and traders, local outlet The Standard reported.
Laura Bicker
China correspondent
Image source, BBC/Laura BickerIn the coastal Chinese city of Zhuhai, nearly every window along the busy sea front has been taped or boarded.
There is heavy police presence in the area. Officers driving past in vans and motorbikes are warning people through megaphones to stay away from the sea front.
In the last few hours, workers have also been scrambling to cut back trees in parks - to reduce damage when the typhoon eventually strikes.
The Hong Kong observatory has issued a level 8 storm warning - just two levels below the maximum No. 10 signal level.
This means that winds with mean speeds of 63kmh or more are expected.
As we've been reporting, the city is in a state of preparation and suspense as the super typhoon nears, with public transport gradually scaling down services in the next two hours.
Macau is expected to issue its own No. 8 at 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT).
More than 370,000 people in the Chinese province of Guangdong have been evacuated so far, the province's emergency management department said.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall in Guangdong on Wednesday. China has ordered at least 10 cities to close schools and some businesses, AFP reported earlier.
Hong Kong is no stranger to violent storms.
In September 2023, super typhoon Saola which packed maximum sustained wind speeds of 210km/h, skirted the city, prompting authorities to issue the No. 10 hurricane signal - the highest storm warning - for more than seven hours.
Super typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 - to date the most intense typhoon to strike the city - injured 200 people, sunk ships and wrecked infrastructure, with the weather agency estimating economic losses of HK$4.6bn ($592m).
In 2017, typhoon Hato unleashed serious flooding and smashed and injured more than 100 people in the city.
Since 1962, at least four other typhoons have prompted the No. 10 signal in Hong Kong.
The city's authorities on Tuesday compared the "serious threat" that Ragasa poses to Mangkhut and Hato.